Destroyer badge for review

[John R.]

Thanks, good shot.

Now we can go from here based on this eagle.

John

[Adrian]

Interesting. There seems to be more excess material around the eagle like that seen around the outline of the boat which might indicate a mis-stamping, the eagle's head is quite deformed. However the details on the badge in general, wreath, boat, waves etc, look quite sharp.

[Norm F]

Hi Guys,

Even allowing for the possibility of a mis-strike, that eagle is still distinctly different from any known tombak Destroyer design. Also the concavity of the leaves on the wreath seems unique amongst Destroyers.

The eagle with it's triangular chest and feathered legs is aesthetically evocative of the eagle on the Juncker U-boat, so it sort of looks like how I would imagine a tombak Juncker Destroyer to look if they had made one!

Cheers.
---Norm

[Tim B.]

I would personally have some reservations with this badge. As Don pointed out, the eagle's claws are one point that makes me look twice at it.

The details overall are very crisp, yet the claws are hammered down flat and it doesn't appear to be due to wear or we should see more in the same area and the tops of the claws still have the finish. So, is it a die issue? Don't forget, we seen these type eagles on KM badges before (most noteably, the Coastal Artillery) that had the little balls on the "feet". These were early fakes often sold by Carsten Staegemeir back as early as 2003. PERHAPS...these are the more current attempts.

The eagle's head..

With guys like Staegemeir delving in the market, I can't help note that the color of the gilding (more brassy in appearance), the bits of flashing and spattering on the reverse surface and 'something' that just doesn't impress me as an original period badge. Sorry, no evidence to support my thoughts here, just my opinions.

Good luck on it!
Tim

[Van]

I would not be so concerned about the excess flashing around the guns, I just posted some pics of my Destroyer and HSF badges from Schwerin and there is a lot of excess flashing on the guns and on the arms on the tower of the HSF...
replies 42 to 44...
http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=457069&page=3

Not sure about the claws as stated...
Van

[Tim B.]

Hi Van,

If it was just the bits of flashing in and of itself, I woudn't think much about it, but you have to take everything into account and there are things (for me at least) that add up to too many questions at this point.

Tim

[Norm F]

Hi Van,

If it was just the bits of flashing in and of itself, I woudn't think much about it, but you have to take everything into account and there are things (for me at least) that add up to too many questions at this point.

Tim

I agree. Too strange. Why are we seeing this unique tombak Destroyer for the first time in the history of WAF? It clearly matches NO other known Destroyer design.
It's pretty cool that the eagle aesthetic seems inspired by Juncker, but it seems a longshot to postulate that this is a long-lost prototype Destroyer badge made by Juncker but never put into production (although that's my second most likely theory right behind clever fake!)

Best regards,
---Norm

[zbv500]

Hi guys, some interesting discussion going on about that badge.

I didnt expact that in the first place. I will go back and ask the guy were he got it and when.

My best,

Jens

[Norm F]

More threads on the Juncker-attributed Destroyer:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=594166

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...d.php?t=485635